Reds easily hand Astros 100th loss

With Jordan Lyles struggling on the mound and shortstop Jonathan Villar making another embarrassing blunder on the bases, the Astros filled a blooper reel Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds, in position to make the playoffs as the National League’s second wild card, pounded Lyles 10-0 at Minute Maid Park, sending the Astros to their third consecutive 100-loss season.

“This is one of those games that you basically chalk up and put behind you,” Astros manager Bo Porter said. “They played really well, and we didn’t play too well.”

Lyles (7-8) gave up nine hits and nine runs (eight earned) with three walks over 31⁄3 innings.

Mike Leake (14-6) held the Astros to five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over eight scoreless innings.

“I know from a team standpoint, it’s not going to change how we go about our business every day,” Porter said of the 100-loss mark. “That’s my No. 1 concern.”

Lyles, usually one of the Astros’ better-fielding pitchers, began to unravel after he fielded Brandon Phillips’ chopper and threw wide of first baseman Chris Carter for a two-base error in the first inning. Joey Votto followed with a single through the left side.

Jay Bruce then hit a bloop RBI single to shallow left, and Xavier Paul walked to load the bases. Todd Frazier followed with an RBI single to left, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. Devin Mesoraco drove in two more runs with a single to right.

“I should have maybe taken a little bit of time,” Lyles said. “I just made a bad throw out of Chris’ reach. Then the next pitch, Votto hit it through the hole. I made a decent pitch on Bruce, and the ball fell in. They started getting hits after that.

“I walked a guy, and it just snowballed. At-bats after that, I wouldn’t say the next batter or two it affected me, but it just seems like they turned the corner after that play.”

The Reds added a run in the third inning. Bruce made it 9-0 with a grand slam to the Crawford Boxes in the fourth.

The Astros’ most memorable play of the night might have occurred in the bottom of the first when Villar attempted to stretch his leadoff single into a double. Reds center fielder Shin-Soo Choo fielded the ball and threw to second. Phillips got the throw with his back to Villar, bent over and applied the tag between his legs while Villar ran into Phillips’ rear end. It was that type of night for the Astros.

“It was a crazy play,” said Phillips, who laughed throughout his postgame interview. “I liked the play, but I didn’t like all that face in the butt. I felt uncomfortable and violated. I know he felt violated, too. I’m glad it wasn’t my face.”

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stands behind Brandon Barnes (2) as they both stand on third base, as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) tags out Altuve during the eleventh inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) less

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stands behind Brandon Barnes (2) as they both stand on third base, as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) tags out Altuve during the eleventh ... more